Awantipora: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will visit the under-construction All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday to review the project’s progress and preparedness for the commencement of healthcare services.
Officials told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Nadda will assess the ongoing construction, infrastructure and arrangements for the phased launch of services at the institute.
The visit comes amid expectations that the Outpatient Department (OPD) will become functional later this month, subject to the completion of pending works and necessary operational clearances.
Officials said efforts are underway to expedite the remaining infrastructure, install medical equipment and obtain mandatory clearances for starting patient services. The earlier target of launching OPD services by the end of October could not be met due to pending works and procedural requirements.
At a review meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Kuldeep Krishan Sidha on October 16, officials had reported that the project had achieved around 81 per cent physical progress, while financial progress stood at over 72 per cent. Hospital Block-I has been completed, while Hospital Block-II is nearing completion.
The district administration has directed executing agencies to resolve pending issues and operationalise completed facilities in phases rather than waiting for the entire campus to be ready.
During his visit to the institute on October 23, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to open departments that are ready for operations without further delay.
Officials said electricity and water connections have been established, while heating systems, lift safety clearances, mandatory no-objection certificates and other operational requirements are being addressed.
AIIMS Awantipora is being developed as a 750-bed tertiary care hospital comprising 57 buildings, with facilities for specialised treatment, medical education, research and advanced diagnostic services.
While the first phase is nearing operationalisation, several academic, administrative, residential and hospital facilities remain under construction. Four buildings under Phase II are targeted for completion by the end of November 2026, while major Phase III works, including Hospital Blocks 3 and 5, are scheduled for completion by June 2027.
